Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Ravi Shankar, 1920 - 2012

For the second time in two weeks, we sadly lost a true music legend and icon that is near and dear to our hearts here at SFJAZZ when Ravi Shankar passed away at the age of 92 yesterday. We were honored to have him grace our stages many times throughout the years, including one of his final performances at last year's San Francisco Jazz Festival. Lauded as the 'godfather of world music', there probably wasn't another artist who did more for bringing Indian classical music to the western world, influencing many great musicians like John & Alice Coltrane (who named their son, Ravi Coltrane, after the sitar master), The Beatles (especially George Harrison), David Crosby, John McLaughlin, Don Cherry, and others.

He was a great spirit who will be deeply missed.

Top Photo: Ravi Shankar on stage at the Davies Symphony Hall on October 7th, 2011. Photo by Mark Brady.